Donor Relations Associate (Foundation) - Temporary Full-Time 2026-18607

Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre; Toronto; On-site; CAD 47,000 - 68,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

HOOPP (pension)

Sunny Days (office closures)

Job summary

Sunnybrook Foundation is seeking a Donor Relations Associate for a 4-month, in-person assignment at 2075 Bayview Ave, North York, ON. You will support donor communications, gift processing, and data management during year-end activities, working closely with the Donor Relations team to ensure a high-quality donor experience.

The role emphasizes attention to detail, professional communication, and collaboration across departments, with opportunities to contribute to donor surveys and related

Qualifications

• Post-secondary education in communications, fundraising, administration, or related field, or equivalent experience.
• Minimum of 2 years’ experience in donor relations, customer service, or an administrative role with strong public-facing responsibilities.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with a donor-first mindset and a commitment to service excellence.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines with accuracy and attention to detail.
• Familiarity with donor CRM systems (Raiser's Edge or similar CRM considered an asset).

Responsibilities

• Donor Experience & Communication: front-line greeting, phone and email responses with warmth and accuracy.
• Gift Processing & Data Management: record phone-in donations and update donor records precisely.
• Project & Program Support: assist with Donor Relations initiatives and improving processes.
• General Administration: provide admin support for the Donor Relations team and cross-department projects.

Skills

Donor relations

Customer service

Administrative support

Microsoft Office

CRM (Raiser's Edge)

Education

Post-secondary education in communications/fundraising/administration

Experience in donor relations or fundraising administration

Tools

Raiser's Edge CRM

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

Title: Donor Relations Associate

Department: Stewardship, Donor Relations and Donor Communications

Reports to: Senior Manager, Donor Relations

Existing Vacancy: No

Duration: 4 months

Location: 2075 Bayview Ave, North York, ON M4N 3M5 (K-Wing)

Who We Are

Sunnybrook Foundation inspires lasting support for Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, one of Canada’s largest and most dynamic health science centres impacting the lives of the more than 1.1 million patients it sees each year. Sunnybrook is ranked #3 in Canada and #30 worldwide in Newsweek Magazine’s World's Best Hospitals 2026 list. This is the eighth consecutive year Sunnybrook has received this recognition.

Together with our donor community, Sunnybrook Foundation raises critical funds for Sunnybrook’s world class academic health sciences centre to achieve our shared vision to invent the future of health care. With ambitious goals ahead, the Foundation is committed to continuing to grow our results and impact as we help Sunnybrook to raise sights, uncover new possibilities, develop talent, and deliver exceptional care.

We are one team in pursuit of a common purpose – to inspire lasting support for Sunnybrook – and we are guided by our values: Build Connectedness, Act with Integrity, Meaningful Collaboration and Strive for Excellence.

Why Join Us

At Sunnybrook Foundation, purpose and passion drive us. We lead with our values and know that our diversity makes us stronger. Here, your work will help raise funds to shape the future of one of the world’s best hospitals, contributing to innovation and a profound impact on the communities we serve. You will collaborate, learn, and grow with a team united in our ambition.

Position Overview

The Donor Relations team plays a vital role in advancing the Foundation’s mission by ensuring an outstanding donor experience that fosters trust, loyalty, and long-term engagement. The Donor Relations Associate supports the delivery of our commitment to donors through consistent, meaningful, and timely interactions with donors, volunteers, and community partners.

This position works collaboratively with colleagues across the Foundation to uphold Sunnybrook's donor experience principles, strengthen relationships, and demonstrate the impact of philanthropy. With a focus on professionalism, attention to detail, and effective communication, the Associate ensures donors feel valued and connected to the Foundation’s mission.

This in-person 4-month contract role requires extensive collaboration with the Donor Relations team to provide excellent donor experience during our year-end giving period. This role includes managing key donor communication channels, providing frontline support through reception and donor response, maintaining accurate donor records, and administrative support of departmental initiatives.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

Donor Experience & Communication

• Serve as a frontline representative of the Foundation by greeting visitors, answering phones, and responding to email inquiries with professionalism and warmth.
• Ensure timely, accurate, and thoughtful responses to donor inquiries, escalating and following up on outstanding matters as needed.
• Draft donor communications using pre‑approved templates; recommend updates or new templates as donor needs and trends evolve.
• Make donor thank‑you calls and assist with personalized acknowledgments, reinforcing appreciation and donor connection.

Gift Processing & Data Management

• Accurately record and process phone‑in donations, liaising with Gift Administration and Philanthropy colleagues to ensure a seamless donor experience.
• Perform donor database look‑ups to resolve inquiries, ensuring accurate and timely responses.
• Update donor records, including coding based on preferences and returned mail, while creating new constituent records and analyzing available information for completeness.
• Collaborate with Gift Administration and Stewardship to prepare and track acknowledgment letters, ensuring accuracy and timeliness; flag delays or concerns to management.

Project & Program Support

• Provide administrative and implementation support for Donor Relations initiatives, including the President’s Donor Experience Task Force and donor survey projects.
• Support the development of systems, processes, and tools that improve efficiency and consistency across donor touchpoints.

General Administration

• Perform general administrative tasks to support the Donor Relations team and the wider Foundation.
• Assist with special projects and cross‑departmental initiatives as assigned.

Qualifications & Skills

• Post‑secondary education in communications, fundraising, administration, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
• Minimum of 2 years’ experience in donor relations, customer service, or an administrative role with strong public‑facing responsibilities.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with a donor‑first mindset and a commitment to service excellence.

• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines with accuracy and attention to detail.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and donor/customer databases (experience with Raiser’s Edge or similar CRM considered an asset).
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively in a team environment while also exercising initiative and independence.
• Ability to work effectively under pressure and adjust to fluctuating seasonal workloads while maintaining a high standard of accuracy and service.
• Familiarity with the use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools and applications in a non‑profit or fundraising context is considered an asset.

Total Rewards Package

This role has been evaluated with an annual salary range of $47,000-68,000. The hiring range for this position is $47,000-58,000. The salary will be determined based on the successful candidate’s years of experience, qualifications and competencies that are relevant to this position. This position requires 5 days in office to support our donors.

We value the contributions of our contract employees and encourage them to explore and apply for future full‑time opportunities with the Foundation.

In addition to salary, our competitive compensation package includes HOOPP (Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan) and additional Sunny Days (paid Foundation office closures around select long weekends and in late December) for contracts longer than 1 (one) year in length.

We thank all applicants in advance. Only those selected for an interview will be contacted. Sunnybrook Foundation does not use AI to screen job applications.

We know that everyone’s career journey looks a bit different and experience comes in many forms. If you’re unsure whether your experience matches all of the requirements but still think this would be a great fit, we encourage you to apply.

Sunnybrook Foundation values equity, diversity and inclusion within the workplace and is committed to fostering a work environment where employees can bring their whole selves to work, are valued for their diversity, and feel a sense of belonging.

Sunnybrook Foundation is committed to providing an inclusive and accessible recruitment experience for all candidates. If you require accommodations at any stage of the hiring process, please let us know when you are contacted.